NSW/ACT Notebook – Round 2 Preview

By Michael DiFabrizio

Sydney Swans vs. Gold Coast Suns – Saturday 1.45pm (SCG)

While the unfurling of the flag will be a moment to savour for all connected with the Sydney Swans, you can be sure once the formalities have concluded, all the attention of players will be firmly focused on taking down a Suns team that has come out firing in 2013.

On the back of a brilliant individual performance from Gary Ablett, who had a lazy 34 touches to go with his four goals, the Suns caused a 13-point upset of St Kilda at home last weekend. It wasn’t all ‘Gazza’ though, with younger players like Charlie Dixon (two goals) also stepping up. It was the perfect start to the Suns’ third season in the comp.

The Swans ventured out to ANZ Stadium and won a tight battle with the GWS Giants by 30 points. Kieren Jack had 25 disposals and three goals to take out the Brett Kirk Medal, while Shane Mumford was strong in the ruck.

Sydney Swans

B: R Shaw, H Grundy, N Smith

HB: L Roberts-Thomson, T Richards, M Mattner

C: J McVeigh, K Jack, L Jetta

HF: J Bolton, S Reid, R O’Keefe

F: M Pyke, A Goodes, D Hannebery

R: S Mumford, J Kennedy, L Parker

I/C: C Bird, A Everitt, N Malceski, B McGlynn

EMG: M Morton, D Rampe, J White

In: C Bird, A Everitt 

Out: T Armstrong (Omitted), D Rampe (Omitted)

Gold Coast Suns

B: J Wilkinson, M Warnock, T Murphy

HB: D Prestia, R Thompson, J Hutchins

C: M Rischitelli, G Ablett, J Harbrow

HF: H Bennell, C Dixon, A Hall

F: L Russell, S Day, S May

R: Z Smith, K Hunt, D Swallow

I/C: B Matera, J O’Meara, J Brennan, M Shaw

EMG: D Gorringe, J Allen, K Horsley

IN: J Hutchins 

OUT: G Broughton (Calf)

Port Adelaide vs. GWS Giants – Saturday 7.40pm (AAMI Stadium)

The Giants travel to AAMI Stadium this weekend to face the only team they have a 100 per cent win record against. That perfect strike rate exists courtesy of a famous win in Round 19 of last season, the only previous meeting between these teams, where GWS prevailed by 34 points.

A fair bit has changed at Port Adelaide since then. Ken Hinkley is the new senior coach and he too can claim to own a 100 per cent win record – his first game in charge last weekend was a 78-point win over Melbourne. Jay Shulz led from attack that afternoon with four goals, while Oliver Wines won a Rising Star nomination for his impressive debut.

The Giants, meanwhile, can hold their heads high after last week’s Battle of the Bridge against the Swans. A five-goal run to start the second quarter gave a glimpse into what this side may be capable of in 2013. The final margin was the closest for a derby yet – 30 points – while Dylan Shiel had a big start to the new season with 26 disposals, seven clearances and a goal.

Port Adelaide

B: T Jonas, A Carlile, C O’Shea

HB: J Pittard, J Trengove, L Stevenson

C: K Cornes, T Boak, Brad Ebert

HF: P Stewart, J Westhoff, A Monfries

F: C Wingard, J Schulz, J Neade

R: J Redden, H Hartlett, O Wines

I/C: M Broadbent, C Heath, M Lobbe, K Mitchell

EMG: S Colquhoun, A Moore, A Young

IN: A Carlile

OUT: A Moore

GWS Giants

B: A Kennedy, T Mohr, P Davis

HB: T Bugg, S Gilham, C Hampton

C: T Scully, C Ward, W Hoskin-Elliott

HF: S Coniglio, J Cameron, D Shiel

F: L Sumner, J Patton, D Smith

R: J Giles, T Greene, A Treloar

I/C: D Brogan, R Palmer, L Plowman, L Whitfield

EMG: S Darley, S Frost, S Reid

IN: R Palmer

OUT: T Adams

NSW/ACT Notebook

– Nelson Bay’s Craig Bird returns to the Sydney line-up this weekend for his first game of the season. Bird played all 25 games for the Swans in their premiership season last year.

– Adam Schneider (Osborne) returns to the St Kilda team for their Friday night clash with Richmond.

– The Western Bulldogs are a surprise member of the AFL ladder’s top two at the moment. There are four players of NSW/ACT origin on the Dogs’ list, with Daniel Cross (Albury) and Tom Young (Campbelltown) featuring in last weekend’s win over the Brisbane Lions. Jason Tutt (Ainslie) and Dylan Addison (St George) are the others.

– Dean Terlich (Osborne) will make his debut for Melbourne in Saturday’s match against Essendon at the MCG.

NEAFL Fixtures (Round 3)

Sydney Swans vs. Gold Coast Suns – Saturday 10.05am (SCG)

Brisbane Lions vs. UWS Giants – Saturday 11.00am (Coorparoo)

Ainslie vs. Morningside – Saturday 11.45am (Ainslie)

Belconnen vs. Tuggeranong – Saturday 2.00pm (Kippax)

Hills Eagles vs. Sydney Uni – Saturday 7.00pm (Bruce Purser)

Queanbeyan vs. Eastlake – Sunday 2.00pm (Dairy Farmers)